Dimples' Divine Domain My journey to financial empowerment.

Yeah......

2009-05-04T09:13:00.003-04:00

Hey guys.

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. Life has been extremely busy. Trying to get used to the extra responsibilities on top of my existing overflowing list.

I will try my hardest to post my do's and don'ts of buying a house tonight.

Hope all is well.

Home Purchase Plan - How I faired

2009-04-07T14:16:00.005-04:00

Back in January I developed my Home Purchase Plan (HPP for short). I listed exactly what I was looking for in my new home including my needs and wants. I printed up my HPP and carried it will me everywhere. I especially took it with me when I went house hunting with my agent. I had a momentary relapse (I'll explain more on that on another post) but got back on track and stuck to my guns. I ended up with a beautiful house that fits all my needs and wants.

HOME PURCHASE PLAN

The home I want:

Price: $0 -> $190,000 $180,000

Ideal Monthly Mortgage (including taxes, PMI, HOA, & hazard): $1200 (max $1300) $1310

Location: Surrounding Orlando Area Check

Bedrooms: 3+ 4

Bathrooms: 2+ 2

Square footage: 1700 s.f. + 1810 sf

Year Built: 2000+ 1998

HOA: $100/month max $150/yr

NEEDS:

* A-rated school district Check
* Quick access to major highways Check
* Good daycare Check
* Nice neighborhood Check
* Shower stall Check
* Backyard Check
* Large kitchen with pantry and lots of cabinet space Check (I have TWO pantries)
* Large master bathroom Check
* Walk-in closet in master bedroom Check

WANTS:

* Garden tub Check
* Family room and living room Check
* New stainless steel black appliances (a girl can dream can't she!) I bought them myself

I only had to bring $5300 to closing since I had already put down the $1000 earnest deposit. My closing took about an hour. I got into an arguement with my agent about an hour before the closing. Oh how I wanted to smack the sh*t outta him. Still do.

My total monthly payment is $1310 which includes $216/month for property taxes and $64/month for hazard insurance. Due to a stipulation in the bank's addendum to the contract we had on the house, I had to redo my points and was able to lock my rate at 5% instead of the 4.875% as I previously hoped. I'll explain that what happened in my Dos and Donts.

I am currently in the middle of getting my house painted. I didn't want to unpack my boxes only to have to move everything again so all my stuff is currently in my garage. I wish I could have taken more days off. I have so much to do and so little time.

Alright I am off to bed.

Hello

2009-04-07T10:46:00.002-04:00

Hey all!

I am still alive. I have been busy with the move and getting settled in. Everything has been going smoothly and falling right into place.

I have a lot of topics to post on but the most important to come are the following:

- My HPP (home purchase plan) results
- My home shopping budget results
- Do's and Don'ts of buying a home
- New budget

I gotta run off to a meeting so I will chat with you all later.

Thats Mz Homeowner to you buddy!!!!!!

2009-03-25T18:05:00.000-04:00

I closed today. It was chaotic up until the last minute but thank GOD almighty I am free at last!!!

Or am I.

UGH the things that need to be done. Gotta don my cap, hotpants, and mask and put a S on my chest.

SUPERMOM UP UP AND AWAY!!!!!

Frugal Woman Strikes Again!!!

2009-03-14T17:07:00.009-04:00

Oh that was sooo comic book!

Dude.......I KILLED today. I am tired, dehydrated, and I have a slight headache but it was all worth it. But wow! I came away with some amazing ~~steals~~ deals. Let me just show you rather than tell you: *Excuse the mess....we are in the process of packing*

Microfiber Sofa Set
Rob & Stucky
(6 months old, Was kept in formal area so hardly any usage)
$400 for the sofa and two chairs!

Cute accent table with matching accent mirror
and two candle wall sconces, Italian themed wine rack
and matching decor signage.
Everything for $30.

Nightstand
$10

Coffee Table
(solid wood, huge)
Bargained down to $22

I am going to restore the nightstand and stain it to match it to my bed and I will either stain or paint the coffee table to match it to my dinette set. I will also paint the legs of the sofa set (which are removable) so that they match the dinette set's color also. Currently the legs have a reddish tone I don't like.

A guy is coming over to hopefully buy my couches. I currently have two dinette sets and two couch sets in my not so big living room. Ugh!

Random Ish

I haven't tracked my budget since February. Its kind of exhilarating and scary at the same time. I love not having to be so detailed but there are some fuzzy spots when it comes to my monthly finances. I don't like fuzzy spots. So would it be weird to say that I can't wait until I move into my house and can start with a fresh new budget? I mean I am actually looking forward to calculating my new budget once I close on the house. Eerie isn't it?........

I may may need to hire pro movers after all. I didn't count on having any kind of furniture when I moved but since having my "AH!!" moment and tracking and snagging deals a la CL, I have accumulated more furniture then I originally had. I don't want to deal with the real pro movers because they always try to pull ish like 3 hour minimums and charging by how much your furniture weighs and stuff. Both are a bunch of bull. But I do want the assurance that insurance and licenses bring and private movers may not be able to provide that. I'll have to sleep on that and figure out what to do later.

I can spray the paint on my walls instead of using a roller or brush?! You know how much time this would save me? One question though........would my walls turn out just as nice as doing it the other way? Guess I should try it and see.

How can someone be creative technology/engineering wise but have absolutely no idea about decorating or color schemes? I seem to be suffering from this disease. I am creative when it comes to restoring things but I have NO clue how to put the pieces together.

I guess I need to get out more if I ever intended to meet a man huh?! I seem to never have the time. And NO I will not do that online dating stuff...........*shudder*

I'm tired.......where is this dude at? I am taking a nap as soon as he leaves.

Home Purchase Update

2009-03-14T05:52:00.001-04:00

I locked in my rate at 5.375% last week. Rates had gone up since my broker sent me my GFE (Good Faith Estimate). I then bought down the rate to 4.875% which will cost 1.25 points and the will be paid by the closing costs the seller is contributing.

This may mean an even lower monthly payment. I say may because I won't know until closing if the estimate on the property taxes were correct or far off.

I also shopped around for quotes on hazard insurance for the house. I spoke to my future neighbor and did some research online about what kind of coverage I should have and how much. I got back 4 quotes that were pretty much identical in terms of amounts of coverage and areas covered and whose premiums ranged from $664 to $776. The only difference was the companys' reputation and ratings. I researched Demotech to find the stability rating for each company. And based off that, customer reviews, and word of mouth I went with the best company which was also the one with the highest quote of $776. I'll pay the extra $112 a year for better service and a more stable company.

I posted my shopping budget for the new house yesterday and left out patio furniture. Its not something I need RIGHT now but if I am able to spend less than the $4K I am aiming at then I will get a set. I saw a lot of good steals on CL.

Being frugal pays off big time

2009-03-11T06:00:00.005-04:00

I have been racking my brain over ways to furnish my house but NOT bankrupt myself in the process. I created a shopping list/budget for things I will need to purchase for my first house. Even after using sale prices for pieces at modest furniture and home decor stores, my total was inching a little over $7500. This includes all appliances, living room furniture, formal area, two bedrooms, dining, office, rugs, decor, and lighting.

My facial expression ----> (Translation: "Good lawd dats a lot of money!!")

So I started searching through sales papers, visited some furniture stores, and found different areas to cut back on. After recalculating the shopping list, my new budget is around $6500.

My current facial expression ----> (Translation: "Uhhhhh....")

Now I had only been looking at brand new furniture. I came across a website, Apartment Therapy, that I found very resourceful and pretty neat. I was inspired and started searching Craigs List in hopes of finding furniture that could be restored into something beautiful and grand (those who know me know that this would definitely be a project that I would have no problem taking on). But instead I found practically brand new furniture at a fraction of its current retail price. And guess what?!

Ya girl is making a killing!!!

I just purchased a 4 month old American Signature dining set that currently retails for $500. I paid $300 for the set.

I also purchased a beautiful espresso colored bed which included a headboard, foot board, side panels, and rails for a total of $200. I paid an extra $20 to have the guy who was selling it deliver it to my apt.

My most latest purchase involved a gigantic work station that included an chocolate desk with a hutch and filing cabinets. This thing measured 6 ft x 9 ft. Cost: $300!

You guys need to see these to really comprehend how much I saved without having to take a hit in the quality department. I am plan on buying majority of my stuff through CL, even my major appliances. There are tons of people who either just bought a house that contained new appliances that they don't like and need to get rid of, or people who moving out of town/state for whatever reason and need to get rid of their things ASAP. Tomorrow I am going to go look at a stainless steel Whirlpool side-by-side fridge which the couple purchased 3 months ago but now need to move out of state. Asking price: $475.

Here is my new home shopping list:

I am aiming at spending no more than $4000. That's $2000 less than my proposed budget! Can I do it?

I won't be relying solely on CL. I have been looking into different "Going Out of Business" sales that have been popping up. Nothing has caught my eye as of yet. e-Bay has had some lil treasures in the lighting and decor department.

If you guys have any suggestions leave a comment.

Moving Fund and other stuff

2009-02-26T05:41:00.000-05:00

My moving fund is coming along nicely. It is currently sitting at $208. Counting this week, I have about 4 weeks until my projected closing date. I'm going to go ahead and list my leather couches and dinette set for sale this weekend. That should bring in about $300. I'll list my two office desk and chairs after I close because will go pretty quickly.

My initial budget was set at $335. After some research I came up with a revised list of moving expenses:

Moving Supplies -> $50

Movers -> ~~$75~~ $25 (Friends are helping. As long as they are fed they are good to go.)

Truck -> $50

Cleaning of apartment after move-out -> ~~$25~~ $45 (Previous listed cost was base w/o extras)

Cleaning of new home prior to move-in -> ~~$20~~ $55 (Ditto)

~~Delivery fee for new appliances -> $65~~ $0 (Ya girl got the hook up!)

Paint and tools -> $40

Repairs (the ones I will take care of) -> $50 (Spoke to a co-worker who owns a construction company and a rep at Home Depot. Parts needed to make repairs will run me a lil under $50.)

Current Total: $330

I am working on getting quotes for the repairs that will need to be handled by a professional. But from talking to my co-worker and the Home Depot rep the total should be between $250 and $300.

Random Thoughts

My agent had a guy from church, who works for ADT, come out and do an estimate on the house. The guys called me and let me know that an alarm system had already been installed at the house and I would only need to pay $99 installation to replace the Brinks alarm panel with an ADT one. Lowest monthly plan available is $34 and through him I would get a $200 rebate which would arrive 4 weeks after my install date. Not bad. I'll definitely be signing up with him.

I currently have Progress Energy for my electrical service at my apt. FPL services the house. So I will be getting back my $285 deposit back from Progress 4 weeks after I cancel my service. They have had that money for about 6 years. Wonder how much interest it had accumulated?

I'll be canceling my Vonage service this weekend and will get a basic land line for the house. I hardly use my home phone and I need a land line for the security system.

I am contemplating getting cable at the house. Contemplating......

I promised my daughter that we would get a dog once we got a house. Choosing a dog is so hard. First I wanted to get one from the pound or humane society but I don't want to end up with an abused psycho dog with problems. I have enough on my own. One of my co-workers just got herself a golden retriever from a breeder. That puppy is so cute but too damn hyper. I need an active dog but not overly hyper. One that is medium-sized and doesn't shed a lot. I wanna get a puppy but I do not want it peeing and pooping all up in my new house. HELP! If you guys have any suggestions let me know. We won't be getting a dog until this summer so I have time to do some research and figure out some things.

I pride myself on being independent and doing everything I need to do for myself and my daughter on my own but sometimes........sometimes.........I just want to hand the reins to someone else and curl up in my bed and sleep for days.

So much to do..........

So much to remember..................

House Update

2009-02-24T20:15:00.004-05:00

Home Inspection - Check

Termite Inspection - Check

Appraisal - Check

All three were done yesterday afternoon between 3 and 5 pm. I also did a little work myself and took pictures of the entire house so that I could lay out my decoration plans and remember what things need replacing. I also did some measuring since the only measurement I was given by the listing agent was for the master bedroom, kitchen, and family room.

The termite inspection turned up nothing which is great. He did note a little bit of rotting going down at the bottom of the front door frame. This was also noted by the home inspector. I used a company that uses dogs to sniff out the termites. They are supposed to be 98-100% accurate. I'll pay the extra $50 for accuracy. Total cost was $130.

The guy who did the home inspection, which cost $225, said that the house was in good condition and that the roof was fairly new (about 2 years). He gave the house a pass and gave me a list of some minor repairs that would need to be taken care of:

* Correct tub faucets that were installed incorrectly. Should point downward in the off position.

* T&P (temperature and pressure) valve on water heater needs to be replaced.

* Replace small section of the front door frame (about 3 inches on each side). Wood is rotted.

* Install sweeper on front door.

* Re-grout floor tiles of the shower in the master bath.

* Repair hinge of porch door.

* Replace garage door chain which broke while we there.

The rotted frame is the worst of the list and seems to be due to a erroneously positioned sprinkler head which was spraying water directly at the bottom of the front door. And since the front door had no sweeper, it allowed enough water in to rot the wood on the door frame a bit. Now here is the list of things I want to have done to the house prior to move in:

* Change locks on all entry doors

* Install woods floors in two closets (master and 2nd bedroom)

* Paint accent walls (8 total)

* Reface cabinets in kitchen and bathrooms

* Install additional cabinets in kitchen

* Install granite counter tops in kitchen and bathrooms

* Replace laminate on counter tops with newer darker color.

I compiled all this onto an excel sheet and sent it to a few "handy men" for quotes and how much time it would take to complete each individual project. I am thinking about doing some of these on my own and just hiring someone to do the ones I won't be able to handle like the door frame or garage door chain. The frugal chic in me says to do the other stuff myself while my lazy side is saying to gone head and hire someone to do that stuff and save myself some time. They are battling ferociously but frugal chic has a slight lead. Urks me to pay for something I could have probably easily done myself. We shall see.

The appraisal guy was in and out. I don't know what he did exactly that was even worth the $395 I paid. Luckily for them it will count towards my 3.5% down payment. I know that having equity in your house is good but is it wrong of me to want the house to appraise for less than what the contract is for? I'm just saying.......

Free Food

2009-02-24T10:30:00.002-05:00

In this economy every little bit helps:

Denny's -> Buy one get one free

Fridays -> Buy one get one free

Ruby Tuesday -> Buy one get one free

Arbys -> Free burger with purchase of a drink

Quiznos -> sign up and get a coupon for a free sub (1st million only)

*Hat Tip to Hustler

$8,000 Home Buyer Tax Credit at a Glance

2009-02-17T17:38:00.005-05:00

Here is the info on the new $8000 Home Buyer Tax Credit:

*The tax credit is for first-time home buyers only.
*The tax credit does not have to be repaid.
*The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000.
*The credit is available for homes purchased on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009.
*Single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000 qualify for the full tax credit.

FederalHousingTaxCredit.com

Here is the info that I found that pertains to my situation:

Who is eligible to claim the tax credit?

First-time home buyers purchasing any kind of home—new or resale—are eligible for the tax credit. To qualify for the tax credit, a home purchase must occur on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009. For the purposes of the tax credit, the purchase date is the date when closing occurs and the title to the property transfers to the home owner.

Are there any income limits for claiming the tax credit?

The tax credit amount is reduced for buyers with a modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) of more than $75,000 for single taxpayers and $150,000 for married taxpayers filing a joint return. The tax credit amount is reduced to zero for taxpayers with MAGI of more than $95,000 (single) or $170,000 (married) and is reduced proportionally for taxpayers with MAGIs between these amounts.

How is this home buyer tax credit different from the tax credit that Congress enacted in July of 2008?

The most significant difference is that this tax credit does not have to be repaid. Because it had to be repaid, the previous "credit" was essentially an interest-free loan. This tax incentive is a true tax credit. However, home buyers must use the residence as a principal residence for at least three years or face recapture of the tax credit amount. Certain exceptions apply.

If I’m qualified for the tax credit and buy a home in 2009, can I apply the tax credit against my 2008 tax return?

Yes. The law allows taxpayers to choose ("elect") to treat qualified home purchases in 2009 as if the purchase occurred on December 31, 2008. This means that the 2008 income limit (MAGI) applies and the election accelerates when the credit can be claimed (tax filing for 2008 returns instead of for 2009 returns). A benefit of this election is that a home buyer in 2009 will know their 2008 MAGI with certainty, thereby helping the buyer know whether the income limit will reduce their credit amount.

Taxpayers buying a home who wish to claim it on their 2008 tax return, but who have already submitted their 2008 return to the IRS, may file an amended 2008 return claiming the tax credit. You should consult with a tax professional to determine how to arrange this.

Check out the website for more FAQs.

Once I close on my house I will amend my 2008 taxes to claim the $8000 credit. Thinking off the top of my head, I will most likely use some of it towards paying off the remainder of my credit card debt and the rest would go towards my E-Fund.

RESOURCES

Recovery.gov

Moving Fund

2009-02-15T12:16:00.004-05:00

I have already started evaluating different costs that will be associated with the purchase of this home, specifically moving costs and furnishing my home.

In leu of future moving costs, I have started up a moving fund. The fund will be used to cover moving supplies, movers, truck, and delivery of my new appliances at the least. Hopefully it will also cover some of the things needed to get the house ready for move-in (ex: paint, minor repairs, cleaning).

Here is my preliminary budget:

Moving Supplies -> $50

Movers -> $75

Truck -> $50

Cleaning of apartment after move-out -> $25

Cleaning of new home prior to move-in -> $20

Delivery fee for new appliances -> $65

Paint and tools -> $50

Current Total = $335

I will be selling off my furniture and some other miscellaneous items and the money from the sales will go towards my moving fund. The same with any extra income from my blog or side hustles. I started selling off some of my furniture this weekend through craigslist and have already made $170 so far. Big items will be sold in about 3 weeks or so and they should bring in an additional $350.

Because I wont have much furniture left to move except for our beds (mattresses only) and a chaise, I decided it would be too costly to hire professional movers to just move a whole bunch of boxes. So I asked a few of the high school boys in my church if they would be free for a couple of hours on a Saturday in late March to help me move. I offered to pay them $25 a piece and they all jumped on it. I should only need at most 3 guys.

I found this cleaning service owned my single moms that only charge $25 for a small apartment. I am going to be dealing with my new home and will not have time to go back and clean my apartment. I definitely see this as money to be well spent. And I am going to hire them to clean my new home (crossing fingers) prior to me moving in. The house looks clean but a lot of people have trekked in and out and I have no clue what level of cleaning was done when the old owners moved out. Again....money to be well spent.

Currently there is no fridge or washer and dryer at the new house (common occurrence with bank-owned or foreclosed homes). There was a new stove installed but I don't like the look of it and the dishwasher is old and disgusting. I will be purchasing new appliances from the Sears Outlet in the area and have it delivered to the house a couple of days after my closing date. The delivery charge is $65 for up to 5 pieces of appliances. I went by the outlet yesterday to get a gist of what the prices will be. I'll do a post on my budget for furnishing my new house.

There are a few minor repairs that need to take place prior to move-in. The guy that is going to do my home inspection will also give me an estimate on the things that I saw. I'll look up the average cost for each one and get a ball park figure. Once I get those I'll add those estimates to my budget.

Alrighty yall. That's my budget. Let me know if I am missing anything.

Peace!

Home Purchase Update

2009-02-14T07:39:00.002-05:00

What it do folks?!

Ya girl has been busy taking her life to the next level. I put an offer on a home on the Jan 30th. And after two weeks of going back and forth with the bank, we finally came to an agreement and I signed a contract on the house yesterday afternoon.

:-D I am super excited and have gotten into my hustle mode. I'll get into that later. First, let me tell you about this house! The house sits in a small town on the outskirts of Orlando. I actually lived in that area before for a couple years when my daughter was born and have wanted to move back ever since. All the schools are A-rated schools. I love the small town feeling and the fact that you have basically all necessities within a 5 mile radius, including a mall with all my fav stores.

It is a 4 bedroom 2 bath home running a little over 1800 square feet with ceramic tiles in the wet areas and hardwood floors in the remaining. I think the only carpeted areas are the closets. The master bedroom is HUGE with a huge bathroom that includes a garden tub and separate shower stall and a HUGE walk-in closet. There is a two car garage, covered lanai, and very nice backyard. And I remember correctly french doors lead into the bedroom that obviously served as an office. Here is a pic of my (prayerfully) future home:

Its the pic from the MLS. I'll have better and more pictures after I close (which is set for March 25th). Ok. Now for the numbers:

Initial List Price: $189,000

Final List Price: $180,000

Down Payment: $6300

Closing Cost Assistance: $8000

Closing Date: March 25th

Per the GFE, my estimated monthly mortgage payment will be $1268. That includes property taxes, mortgage insurance, and hazard insurance. The rate on my GFE is 5%. The seller is provding $8000 towards closing and that will include buying down points. My estimated closing costs are $5800 (per GFE) so the remaining money will go to buying down points and a one year home warranty.

Here is how the house measures up to the requirements I set:

Price: $0 -> $190,000 CHECK

Ideal Monthly Mortgage (including taxes, PMI, HOA, & hazard): $1200 (max $1300) CHECK

Location: Surrounding Orlando Area CHECK

Bedrooms: 3+ CHECK

Bathrooms: 2+ CHECK

Square footage: 1700 s.f. + CHECK

Year Built: 2000+ CHECK

HOA: $100/month max CHECK

NEEDS:

* A-rated school district CHECK
* Quick access to major highways CHECK
* Good daycare CHECK
* Nice neighborhood CHECK
* Shower stall CHECK
* Backyard CHECK
* Large kitchen with pantry and lots of cabinet space CHECK
* Large master bathroom CHECK
* Walk-in closet in master bedroom CHECK

Everything is falling into place. Once we get the ok from the seller we will get a home inspection and appraisal done. The home inspection will probably get done around Thursday or Friday of next week. I am actually going to go to the house today with my agent and take a look at it again. I haven't seen it in like 2 or 3 weeks. Need to refresh my memory.

I am working on getting a moving fund started and researching the start-up costs for utilities. I'll do another post later today or tomorrow on that.

Heading off to Ikea for free breakfast and to do some shopping with my bestie and fellow single moms.

Yall have an awesome Saturday!

Recipe - Garlic Ginger Wings

2009-02-04T18:00:00.008-05:00

These were yummy in my tummy!!!

INGREDIENTS:

10 whole wings - My chicken is hormone free and free range. Bought it from my favorite lil farmers market. . $2.50

Sea Salt - I dunno. Maybe 5 pinches. Enough to lightly season.

black Pepper - Same as salt.

Pepper flakes - Same as above. You could substitute with hot sauce.

1 tbsp Oil - Use any type you like. I used coconut oil. It is really good for.

1/2 cup of wheat flour - I used organic whole wheat flour. You can use white flour. $.10

For the sauce:

3 garlic cloves - pressed

1.5 inches of ginger - pressed

1 tbsp of organic molasses - I chose to use molasses because it has less calories and sugar. Honey is another great substitute. You could also use brown sugar. I'd keep away from that bleached stuff though.

3 tbsps of coconut oil

4 tbsps of balsamic vinegar

Optional: Soy sauce (2 tbsps)

TOTAL COST: Under $3

DIRECTIONS:

Clean wings. Cut wings into halves (flats and drummettes). You can cut off the tips if you want. I like them on. Season the wings with sea salt, black pepper, and the pepper flakes. Drizzle about a tbsp of coconut oil over wings and mix to make sure every wing is coated.

Put flour into gallon sized ziplock bag. Place wings into baggy, seal, and shake until all wings are evenly coated with the flour. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Cover baking pan with aluminum foil. Spray down foil with cooking spray. Place wings onto foil and spray wings with cooking spray.

Place wings into oven to bake for 40 minutes.

Sauce: Place sauce pan on stove on medium high setting. Add coconut oil to pan and then add garlic and ginger. Saute for about 1 minute and then add balsamic vinegar and molasses (or whatever you decided to use). Let it simmer for a few minutes until it gets rich and creamy. Remove and place in a big bowl.

When the wings are done, place them in the bowl with the sauce. Cover the bowl with a paper plate (or lid of some sort) and shake until all the wings are coated with the sauce. Place wings on a tray and enjoy!!!

These were really really good. My daughter didn't like them because they were too spicy. Many of my substitution were primarily based on my personal choice for healthier alternatives. So go ahead and use what you want. Don't over do the molasses though. That organic stuff is PURE and very potent. Luckily in this recipe it is up against two other very strong flavors (ginger and garlic) and couldn't over power them.

Anyhoo enjoy and let me know how your version comes out if you wind up changing the recipe.

Uhhhhhh.....???

2009-01-31T06:18:00.005-05:00

My agent thought it would be funny to include this house in a list of houses he sent me.

Uhhhh yeah.

Hee Hee Hell!

Hmmmmmm

2009-01-29T05:31:00.002-05:00

5 bedrooms + bonus room

3 bathrooms

2800 square feet

Some Tax Advice and Important Information

2009-01-26T21:35:00.004-05:00

I just E-filed my federal tax return. I'll explain why I went ahead and did my tax return instead of waiting until March or April like I stated in my previous post in a second. First let me share a very important piece of advice to take heed of when filling out your tax return:

Never rely on information from documents such as your last pay stub or last bank statement of the year to complete your tax return. Wait for your employers, past and present, to send your W-2s and for the banks to mail out your interest statement.

I used the last pay stubs of my two past employers and present employer and also used my last bank statement from each savings account to estimate my 2008 tax refund. And because I e-file, I really didn't need to wait to receive my hardcopy W-2s through the mail. Everything is done electronically. But being me, I waited to receive ALL my OFFICIAL documents and do yall want to guess how far off my original $1335 tax refund estimate was??

$872 off!!

Now I would never have sent off my tax return using estimates but still. The huge difference blew me away. Just shows you how much "minor" mistakes can cost you.

Anyhoo. I went ahead and filed my tax return today because of three reasons:

1. I already had all my paperwork and could file at any time.
2. I spoke to a rep at the IRS and he confirmed that I could amend my 2008 tax return to claim the 1st Time Home Buyer Tax Credit once I had closed on a house and it was before the July 1, 09 deadline.
3. The $2207 tax refund I will be receiving will be better used now towards my home purchase fund.

Based on my IRS e-File Refund Cycle Chart I should be receiving my refund via direct deposit next Friday, 2/6/09. Here are a few dates from the chart:

Transmitted & Accepted (by 11:00 am) between...	Direct Deposit Sent*	Paper Check Mailed*
Jan 16 and Jan 22, 2009	Jan 30, 2009	Feb 6, 2009
Jan 22 and Jan 29, 2009	Feb 6, 2009	Feb 13, 2009
Jan 29 and Feb 5, 2009	Feb 13, 2009	Feb 20, 2009
Feb 5 and Feb 12, 2009	Feb 20, 2009	Feb 27, 2009
Feb 12 and Feb 19, 2009	Feb 27, 2009	Mar 6, 2009
Feb 19 and Feb 26, 2009	Mar 6, 2009	Mar 13, 2009
Feb 26 and Mar 5, 2009	Mar 13, 2009	Mar 20, 2009

Happy tax filing yall!!

Tax Resources:

TaxAlmanac

Fairmark

IRS Free File

Its Tax Time!

2009-01-24T07:41:00.001-05:00

Its that time of the year again.

Tax time!

I think this year I will do my own taxes again. One problem that I run into each year is remembering all the documents and information that I need to gather. So this time around I made myself a checklist:

- W-2 from Employer #1
- W-2 from Employer #2
- W-2 from Employer #3
- EIN and total amount paid from Daycare #1
- EIN and total amount paid from Daycare #2
- List of itemized deductions and receipts if applicable
- Student loan interest amount
- 1099-R for 401K distribution from Employer #2
- Information needed to claim 1st Time Home Buyer Tax Credit (gotta buy a home 1st)

So far I have everything except for the following:

- Information needed to claim 1st Time Home Buyer Tax Credit (gotta buy a home 1st)

I probably won't be filing taxes until late March or early April (before 4/15 of course). I also want to wait and see if there will be any new tax incentives from the new administration.

Are you ready for tax season?

Do you have all your documents or are you waiting on some?

Home Purchase Plan

2009-01-17T20:03:00.004-05:00

HOME PURCHASE PLAN

The home I want:

Price: $0 -> $190,000

Ideal Monthly Mortgage (including taxes, PMI, HOA, & hazard): $1200 (max $1300)

Location: Surrounding Orlando Area

Bedrooms: 3+

Bathrooms: 2+

Square footage: 1700 s.f. +

Year Built: 2000+

HOA: $100/month max

NEEDS:

* A-rated school district
* Quick access to major highways
* Good daycare
* Nice neighborhood
* Shower stall
* Backyard
* Large kitchen with pantry and lots of cabinet space
* Large master bathroom
* Walk-in closet in master bedroom

WANTS:

* Garden tub
* Family room and living room
* New stainless steel black appliances (a girl can dream can't she!)

Based on my research, an FHA would be the best loan for me to get. I chose to go this route because of the lower interest rate (currently 4.6%) and the lower required down payment (3.5%).

The following is basic loan qualifications for an FHA loan:

- Two years of steady employment (preferably same employer)

- Last two years of income should be same or increasing

- Minimum credit score of 580 and no more than 2 thirty day lates

- Bankruptcy two years or older (if applicable)

- Foreclosure three years or older with perfect credit since

- New mortgage payment < or =" to">

- 3.5% down payment

Here is how I stack up against the requirements:

- Two years of steady employment (preferably same employer). Check. I have 5 years of steady employment. Even though I have had 3 employers, they have all been on the same contract.

- Last two years of income should be same or increasing. Check. As most of you know I have increased my income by $25,000 over the past 8 months.

- Minimum credit score of 580 and no more than 2 thirty day lates. Check and check. My current credit score is 707 (Experian) and I don't have any late payments on my report.

- Bankruptcy two years or older (if applicable). N/A

- Foreclosure three years or older with perfect credit since (if applicable). N/A

- New mortgage payment < or =" to"> Check. The mortgage payment on my max price is 25% of my gross monthly income.

- 3.5% down payment. Almost there. The maximum down payment I am looking at is $6650. I currently have $3000 saved. I will have an additional $4050 saved by April, giving me a total of $7050.

I applied this past Friday and was pre-qualified for loan up to $300K.

I am looking into the 1st Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Program.

Facts on the programs:

The tax credit is available for first-time home buyers only.
The maximum credit amount is $7,500.
The credit is available for homes purchased on or after April 9, 2008 and before
July 1, 2009.
Single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000 qualify for the full tax credit.
The tax credit works like an interest-free loan and must be repaid over a 15-year period (starting two years after you buy your home).

I meet all the requirements to receive the credit except for the home purchase prior to July 1, 2009 but that is in the workings. I read through the FAQs on the website and it says that I can claim the credit on my 2008 tax return on a home I buy in 2009 (obviously as long as you bought the home before the last day to file taxes 4/15). If that is the case then I would be able to get an additional $7500 on my 2008 tax refund. I am going to confirm this on Monday and if everything is what it seems then I will most likely wait to do my tax return so that I can claim the credit.

I know some of you guys might have concerns or questions about my HPP so let me see if I can alleviate some of them. I expect the seller to pay all closing costs. I don't plan on buying a "handy-man" special but if the house does need any repairs then I will request that the seller have those handled prior to closing or provide a repair allowance to be given to me at closing. And I am not worried about having money right when I move in to furnish my house. Its not like I don't have furniture. I am hoping to close on a home by April 15 at the latest (my lease ends April 30th). I'll then have about 45 days until my 1st mortgage payment is due. If I needed to I could use the money I would be saving from having no mortgage or rent due. I also have a $300 deposit on my apartment that will be refunded and some others sources of income that will be trickling in.

Anyhoo that is my plan. Think its a stretch? You don't know me very well do you? I'll keep you guys posted.

January 09 Budget

2009-01-13T00:54:00.005-05:00

I know this is late but better late than never.

As you can see there has been a change in plans. I will be focusing on saving for the next few months or so. I have big and exciting things in the works.

Aside from the savings, there wasn't any significant change from this past year. January is a 3 paycheck month for me.

YAY ME!!

Score for Team Dimples!!!!

2009-01-12T19:18:00.002-05:00

Oh yeah! Oh yeah!!!

Guess who's credit score broke the 700 barrier??

MINE!!!!!!!!!!!!

CREDIT SCORE = 707

YAY!!!!!

*ahem*

Now back to your regularly scheduled program.......

Recipe - Candy Cane Chocolate Milk

2009-01-10T17:07:00.005-05:00

My daughter and I opted to stay home rather than go out. This being our first weekend together (by ourselves) since I left her with grandma after Xmas, we decided to have some quality time. We just made this awesome drink and I wanted to share it with you guys, especially my fellow mommies.

Wondering what to do with the 30 plus candy canes left over from your Christmas tree? Well I was. I definitely wasn't about to have Sweet Pea munch on them for the next couple of weeks. So my mommy brain got to working and I browsed my fridge and pantry for some recipe ideas.

Bingo!

Candy Cane Chocolate Milk!!!

Ingredients:

- 3 regular candy canes (I am sure you can do this with any of the other funky flavors)
- 4 cups of Almond Milk (We don't do milk but you can use it if ya want)
- About 3 tbsp of Sugar-Free Chocolate Syrup (you can use whatever type of chocolate you want)
- Ice

Instructions:

Add all the candy canes and 1 cup of milk to your food processor. Process on high until you can hardly see any pieces of candy cane. Pour candy cane milk mixture into blender along with remaining ingredients. If you want you can scrap out the little bits of candy cane into the blender or just leave it till the end. Blend for about a minute or less. Pour into glasses and enjoy!!!

My daughter LOVED this!!! Talk about a hit. And she loved the lil pieces of candy cane at the bottom of her cup.

You can of course make this without the chocolate. I just loved the combination.

We are off to make chocolate chips cookies and do some arts and craft.

Productivity

2009-01-10T09:30:00.003-05:00

This weekend is going to be a very productive. Especially if the remainder is anything like my Saturday morning (mind you its only 9:30 am). I have estimated my tax refund for this year ($1335,) completed my monthly report for December 08, and calculated my January 09 budget.

Oh yeah, and like a typically mom, I am did all that while cleaning, cooking breakfast, and doing laundry. :-D

Remainder of my To Do List:

- 2009 Goals
- 2009 Career Plan
- Home Purchase Plan
- Pay bills
- Leave apt by 1 pm and have fun for the rest of the day

Hope you all are having a productive morning also!

2008 Goals Review

2009-01-05T03:57:00.005-05:00

I had a GREAT Bday weekend! I spent time with my family, had some quality time to myself, did some shopping, and ate some wonderful Caribbean food. I loved every minute of it.

Alright! Lets get to the nitty gritty. Over the next few posts I will review my 2008 Goals and do a short summary of all major events (good and bad) in 2008. Once we get that out the way, we'll see what Dimples has planned for 2009. It will definitely be a year for GREAT things!

CAREER DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR 2008 GOALS REVIEW

I am not going to list every single goal I had on this plan. Once I made the choice to basically "upgrade" to the next level of my career, about 3/4 of my plan could not be applied to my new position. So here is a list of what I did accomplish:

*Went on my first business trip to Shreveport, LA
*Became Lead Engineer on 5 separate projects
*Took a huge leap of faith and landed great job with client (and then successor)
*Same leap of faith increased my salary by $25,000
*Increased my knowledge of Access and databases
*Taught myself Relex
*Taught myself FMEA

Doesn't seems like much but I got a lot done. I'll post my 2009 Career Plan/Goal later this week.

2008 GOALS REVIEW

FINANCES

1. Eliminate CC Debt - 54% complete

I paid off $7000 of $13K in cc debt. Unforeseen circumstances led to a $3K increase in my cc debt. The huge salary jump allowed me to attack a sizable chunk of my debt and I ~~hope~~ plan to be debt free by February 09.

2. Double Emergency Fund to $6,000 - Done (kind of)

In October I had about $7000 saved in E-fund. $6K of that was used later on to pay off a chunk of my cc debt.

3. Car loan balance < $15K - Nope

Current balance of my auto loan is $18K.

4. Obtain $300K in additional life insurance - Nope

I was able to obtain an additional $75K in life insurance. I will look further into this later on this year.

5. Increase credit score to 700+ - Almost

My current score is 686. I am almost there.

6. Change to paperless billing system - Done

7. Find permanent hustle - Done

This blog is my permanent hustle. I also jump on lil things here and there.

CAREER/BUSINESS

1. Business - Nope

All my business goals are on hold. Once I get things ironed out with my career, finances, and buying a home, I will look back into it.

2. Increase salary by at least 5% - DONE!

I increased my salary by 50%. Take that! Take that!!!!

3. Look into investment/rental property - NO!

Please! Not in THIS market. Don't know what I was thinking when I added that on.

4. Network - Yes, kind of

I have been to a couple of events but not as much as I should have.

MISCELLANEOUS

1. Take at least 2 Out-of-State trips - Done

I went to Atlanta, GA last February with my girls and to Shreveport, LA on business. Yes I am counting the business trip.

2. Better time management - Ugh

Work in progress. I am getting better though.

3. Be more organized - Yes!

I'm a Capricorn so I am a master a this.

Not sure how to gauge how well I have done in this past year. Doesn't look good on paper but then again I am on a whole other level than where I was a year ago. I've done pretty good this year and I am very proud of myself. So is my daughter. And that is what really matters at the end.

I have a number of things I want to focus on this year and a lot I want to accomplish. I have the drive, I have the faith, I have the determination, and I have the intelligence. Once I concur my time management issues I will be a powerhouse. Play wit it if you want to!!

Look out for my 2009 Goals in the next couple of days.

Free FICO credit score

2009-01-02T05:04:00.002-05:00

myFICO is offering a free FICO credit score to first 20,000 who request it.

With all these new changes to the way the score is calculated, you guys might as well jump on this and see if your score has been affected in any way.